Emma’s Secret. Barbara Taylor Bradford

yes, I am.’ Evan flashed her a friendly smile in return, and added, ‘I didn’t have lunch today, so I think I’ll go for the whole works.’

      ‘The full afternoon tea, then. Sandwiches, scones, and cake. Right away, Miss Hughes. Oh, and it is English breakfast tea you like, isn’t it?’

      ‘Yes, it is, thanks, Clara.’

      It was her gran who had introduced Evan to afternoon tea when she was a child growing up in Connecticut. Glynnis had made quite a ceremony out of it, serving the tea from a silver pot with a silver strainer over the cup, and thin slices of lemon, or milk for those who preferred. The tea had always been Twinings brand from London, usually the English breakfast tea preferred by Glynnis, but sometimes replaced by Orange Pekoe. Never Earl Grey, because Gran didn’t like the flavour. Smoky, she had called it.

      Evan and her sisters had loved the finger sandwiches filled with egg salad, slices of cucumber or tomato, occasionally thin slivers of chicken, sometimes sardines, or wafer-thin pieces of smoked salmon between the crustless bread. Because Gran had liked to bake, there were always fresh scones right out of the oven, served with strawberry jam and clotted cream, and for the finale, a caraway-seed cake.

      On special occasions her grandmother would make a light sponge cake, which she sliced through the middle into two flat pieces, and filled with whipped cream and raspberry jam. And when she had grown older Glynnis had taught her how to make the sandwiches, the scones, and the various cakes; in fact, it was her gran who had taught Evan how to cook any number of things, and over the years she had become quite accomplished in the kitchen.

      Evan thought of this now as she munched on a smoked salmon sandwich, wondering what to do about an apartment. Should she look for a small one in this area? Or should she stay on at the hotel? She had meant to ask her father about this earlier, but she had been so distracted by his lacklustre response to her news that it had slipped her mind.

      In many ways the hotel was more convenient because she was so well taken care of here; on the other hand, she did not have a kitchen and had to eat in the hotel dining room, which added to her expenses.

      After wrestling with the problem for a few minutes, she made a decision. She would stay on at the hotel for the moment, very simply because she did not have time to look for an apartment.

      In any case, Evan already had a good picture of what working at Harte’s was going to be like: back-breaking routine, long hours, and total devotion and dedication to duty. She had already perceived that Linnet would be a hard taskmaster, and that she would expect everyone to work as hard as she did. And especially a newcomer like her, who was bound to be on trial. Evan had discerned that Linnet, for all her sweetness and beauty, was at heart a tough businesswoman. This did not trouble her; rather, she admired that trait.

      Yes, it’s better to stay here, Evan told herself, where I’m comfortable and have every convenience. Later, once the retrospective is set up and things are rolling along smoothly, I’ll think about finding my own place, one with a decent kitchen where I can cook; an apartment where I can do a little entertaining, even. This thought pleased her, and she reached for a scone, spread it with strawberry jam and added a large dollop of cream.

      As she ate the scone she realized just how hungry she had been, but she also reminded herself how fattening scones and rich cream cakes were. Not too many of these afternoon teas, she vowed to herself, and then smiled. She would be at the store most of the time anyway – and how she was looking forward to it! All of her life she had found challenges enormously appealing.

      Leaning back against the cushions once again, Evan let her thoughts wander, reviewing the events of the day. And eventually they came to settle on Gideon Harte.

      He had been pleasant and helpful in the corridor when she was looking for the management offices. But later this pleasantness had turned to genuine masculine charm and much solicitousness. When she had walked into Linnet’s office with Maggie Hemmings, he had hurried across the floor to greet her. Once she had been introduced by Maggie to his cousin, he had not hidden his interest in her. In fact, he had been so attentive to her that she found herself staring back at him, as intensely as he was staring at her.

      His light green eyes had gazed into hers, and she found she could not look away, mesmerized by him. Now she remembered how her heart had skipped a beat, and that his long, penetrating look had made her legs go slightly weak at the knees. Nothing had ever happened to her like that before; but then no man had looked at her quite like that, not ever in her entire adult life. A moment later, when he had taken hold of her arm to lead her over to the chair, his hand had seemed to scorch through the fabric of her jacket. She had been momentarily thrown, so attracted to him was she—

      ‘Evan. How are you?’

      At the sound of Arlette’s lilting, lightly accented French voice, she sat up with a start and exclaimed, ‘I’m fine, Arlette. How nice to see you. And how’re you?’

      ‘I am well. Busy, busy. George is away on the business, so I am in command, as he calls it. And one needs the bon courage to be in charge of a hotel. Even a small one such as this.’

      ‘But you do everything so well, so I’m sure you run it exactly the same way George does.’ As she spoke Evan smiled at Arlette, her face dimpling.

      Arlette, as always, was completely captivated by that warm, wide smile, which she found so infectious, and she smiled in return. There was something unique about this friendly, open, outgoing American girl who was full of such charm and grace. Now she asked, ‘Are you all right? Are you feeling better?’

      ‘I’m back to normal, thank you,’ Evan reassured her, and then she leaned forward from the waist, looked up at Arlette. ‘Can you sit for a minute? I’ve got some news for you.’

      ‘Mais oui, cherie.’ Arlette lowered herself onto the sofa next to Evan.

      ‘I got myself a job today, a wonderful job. At Harte’s store in Knightsbridge.’ Once again, Evan enthusiastically launched into the retelling of her experience at the store, explaining in detail about the events which had taken place. ‘And Linnet O’Neill hired me,’ she finally finished, settling back, a look of pleasure lighting up her lovely face. ‘I will be working in fashion with her.’